Page 125 of A World of Ruins

I glance at him just as he wipes away a tear that escapes me. In his eyes, I see the reflection of flames that gives me enough strength to smile. ‘We will need to bury him,’ I say, then look at Lorcan. ‘How many casualties?’

He sighs deeply and shakes his head at the ground. ‘It is hard to tell. At least a hundred between the city and the Venators.’

I nod, trying to keep my composure. At the same time, Freya comes running towards us with Rydan and Link. She holds a scared Tibith in her arms before handing him over to Darius to console.

She immediately swings an arm around my neck, whispering, ‘You’re okay, Solaris, you’re okay.’

‘As are you,’ I say as we pull apart. She has a slight bruise marring her forehead, but other than that, she looks perfect as always. ‘I needed to talk to you before . . .’ Well, she knows the rest. I clear my throat. ‘Freya, do you not remember at all what you told me in my room?’

She frowns, shaking her head at me.

‘You had a vision.’

Freya blinks at me, her mouth opening then closing as she tries to wrap her head around that.

‘It was a warning,’ I emphasise. ‘Like the one Leira once gave me. I think . . . I think it is the only thing that can help us right now.’

‘Nara.’ She sighs. ‘I don’t even know what I said or—’

‘But I do.’ My eyes flicker towards everyone else. The weight of what I am about to say might worsen things, but I can’t keep it from them. ‘I freed Sarilyn.’

I hear Rydan mutter a ‘What?’ while Freya takes a step back in shock.

‘Nara,’ Lorcan warns, but I look to Darius for his reaction. He doesn’t speak, nor does he look mad.

‘She told me,’ I say before anyone can interrupt me, ‘about the seer who she visited all those years ago. The same seer who will likely know more about Aurum than any of us.’

‘Sarilynknew.’ Rydan shakes his head. ‘She was the one there with him for centuries.’

‘And yet she still doesn’t know everything.’ My mind recalls how Aurum mentioned a witch. ‘Mywitch,’ he had said. I capture Freya’s hands in mine. ‘In your warning, you said that the rivers hold the answer.’

‘I—’

‘Just trust me.’

Freya’s gaze turns watery as she stares at me. After a moment, she whispers, ‘You know I do.’

‘Where does this seer live,ifshe is still alive?’ Darius says for the first time after I told everyone about Sarilyn.

‘Deep in the woods.’ I look towards the walls of the castle. ‘I can only hope that she never left.’

The revelation hangs heavy over the group. I hold my breath, waiting for someone to at least respond.

‘Deep in the woods,’ Darius echoes, his voice steady and resolute. ‘Tell us when you’re ready, Goldie, and we’ll leave in search of her.’

Hearing that confirmation from Darius gives me all the assurance I need. The group’s collective gaze turns to me with unwavering support, while Freya’s eyes fill with fear.

I squeeze her hand the same way she would mine. I glance at the courtyard surrounding us; bodies lie on the ground that was once green and beautiful. There’s a silence among us, as we mourn everything we have lost today.

I can’t seem to take Aurelia’s dress off. Even as it hangs filthy and ripped in parts that show off my skin, I still can’t. I buried Ruvyn, wearing this dress. The last thing he saw me in before dying.

Glancing at Darius I see he is sitting on the edge of the bed, his clothes, unlike mine, on the floor, leaving him in just his breeches. The muscles on his chest go taut with every movement of his hands as he pulls off his boots and sets them down with a heavy sigh.

I walk over to him, and he looks up. His hair is all messy, and I just want to run my hands through it.

He slinks his hands around my waist and pulls my stomach towards his lips.

‘Freya told me about the dress,’ he murmurs.

---